So long Mr Magic

Hazem El Masri will play the last NRL regular season home game of his storied career when the Bulldogs play the Warriors at ANZ Stadium this Sunday and all manner of fanfare is being planned for the match.

And so it should be. All hail Hazem!!

It has been well documented, this year more than ever, that El Masri has been one of the game's leading off field torch bearers for all that is good in rugby league and indeed the greater community for most of his stellar 14-year NRL career.

To go with that, and what should never be forgotten, is an on-field resume that boasts well over 300 first grade games, a Premiership, all-time NRL point scoring records and City, NSW and Australian jerseys.

Not a bad CV for a Muslim boy born in Lebanon who didn’t even arrive in this country UNTIL he was 12.

The Bulldogs will show their recognition of a club legend, by for the first time ever after a Rugby League match allow fans onto the hallowed ANZ Stadium turf. They will also have 5,500 supporters join together to unveil placards with a special message for Hazem just prior to kick-off.

To top it off there will be free entry for ALL members of ALL NRL clubs. That's not a misprint. The Bulldogs are going to allow members from rival clubs to come along and send off Hazem in style - for free. Kids under 15 get in free too.

So here is a club, much maligned for their off field culture and administration a little over 12 months ago, leading the NRL in 'how to promote the game' stakes by paying tribute to a guy who wrote the modern day book of 'how to promote the game'.

I have never been a fan of the Bulldogs. Actually, I’ve been a Bulldog hater most of my life. But I’ve never hated Hazem. I could even say I’ve liked him a lot.

This week for 80 minutes (or maybe around 100) I am going to be a Bulldogs fan. A fan because of the way CEO Todd Greenberg and his staff have shown all how things can be done off the field because of the way one man has kicked goals both literally and figuratively inside and outside the arena.

All hail Hazem!!

Sunday won't be the end for El Masri – the Bulldogs play the Wests Tigers at the Sydney Football Stadium in the last premiership round and then will be a big contender in the semi-finals.

I can’t say I’ll support the Doggies after this game – but I’ll always have a soft spot for the man they call 'El Magic'.

International sport bucket list

Last week I wrote about my Australian sport bucket list and I was surprised by how many of my friends and associates discussed their lists with me in the days that followed.

Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised as it is an interesting topic that i think for most people could change on an almost daily basis.

I wish those people had shared their lists with everyone else via this site because it would have made for spirited reading and debate!

Anyway, the Aussie list is done and now it is time for my overseas list.

I will preface this list by admitting i am obsessed with US sport and also that this task was near impossible to narrow to just five so i went for six! Here goes, again in no particular order:

AMERICAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Texas v Oklahoma. The Red River Rivalry or Shootout -I don't care what you call it these days. And I think my preference would be to watch this in Austin too. Or maybe Norman?? Something about Longhorn cheerleaders though!

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL FINAL - Give me Man Utd away against just about anyone on the continent. AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Galatasaray - I don't mind.

WORLD SERIES GAME 7 - If you know me there are probably no surprises that this would be in the new Yankee Stadium. I don't even care who it is against. And I wouldn't even care if it was in Game 4, 5 or 6 as long as it was a ring clincher. Second best (or maybe even better) would be to see the Yanks knock off the evil Red Sox in the ALCS the week or so before.

THE GRAND NATIONAL - All that pomp and flesh. I mean horseflesh. And I love to punt on things I know little about.

NCAA MEN'S SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS - Some say this is as good as watching the Olympic swimming program. Enormous pressure. As a swim fan I have to see this once.

SUPER BOWL - Preferably in New Orleans but I am not too picky on this one. And I wanna be greedy and be there for the whole week. I'll start with the Maxim and Victoria's Secret parties.

There - that's not asking for much. What do you think? Let us all see your list.

Aussie sport bucket list

I have always been a big fan of lists and I read with interest the other day when Sports Illustrated's (www.si.com) top online writers listed the sporting events they'd love to tick off before the eventually, well, tick off.

So I got to thinking, what sporting events would i like to see before my days are up. It wasn't easy. Or actually it was easy to think of things, lots of things.

The trick was narrowing it down to just five. I did cheat a little though - I have divided my lists into Australian and international (the overseas list will come next week).

So here goes in no particular order - check out mine and please let me know yours in the comments section:

AFL GRAND FINAL - no one in this country or at least no where in this country does sport quite like Melbourne and this, along with the Melbourne Cup is one of their two biggest events. Would be great to see two local teams involved in the big day at the G too.

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH - I am not that big a fan of getting all stoked and that sort of cool stuff that hangs around one of these events but I think this would be something special. Easter at Bells always throws up some great surfing.

STAWELL GIFT - If I was at Bells I'd have to duck up the road to Stawell for the gift that occurs every year around the same time. I hear the carnival atmosphere is outstanding.

RUGBY LEAGUE STATE OF ORIGIN GAME THREE - This one would be a cracker but it would have to be a tied series with the final game in Brisbane. With a solid brawl and a Blues victory for good measure!

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS MEN'S FINAL - Federer v Nadal, epic 5 setter in Australia. Enough said.

I found it hard to leave out my local club rugby derby between Manly and Warringah and the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne but hey, maybe i'll find the time for them too!

I think that's it.....for now! I reserve the right to make changes!! Let's hear your list.

If you don't play take it off!

There are few things i like more in life than going to the footy with my mates and having a few beers.

I also like to cheer loudly for my team, yell at the ref to 'get 'em onside' and heap abuse on the opposition. I am even prepared to clap the other mob if they do something really cool.

And i like other people to do the same. If you've paid the freight to get in you should be allowed to support your team as enthusiastically as possible.

But i will not, under any circumstances, condone the wearing of a football jersey by an adult male. Unless you are about to come off the interchange bench (which you're not), take the jersey off. You look like a douche bag!!!

You've all seen the guy I'm talking about. You know, the dude with his Wallaby jersey tucked into his jeans under his RM Williams jacket or the Bulldogs fan with the jersey over his adidas hoodie.

Jerseys are for players. And kids. If you are over 16 you should be over the jersey. That's it, period.

There is only one thing worse and that's the tight-arse who is still wearing the jersey of the guy who left your club two years before. If he has left, or retired, he doesn't play in the team anymore!

Buy the polo, a stubbie holder or even one of those gay things that you stick on the back window of your car but do not wear the jersey.

You don't see motor racing fans wearing one of those fireproof jumpsuits to a race or a surfing fan rocking up to the Billabong Pro in a wetsuit so why would you wear a jersey to a football match.

And don't get me started on blokes that lob to an AFL match with a sleeveless vest on!!!